Sober in the City - My Story of Friendship, Partnership and Sober-Minded Connection

At the end of 2022, for no particular reason at all, Palm Springs started calling my name.

I began following desert sunsets and Joshua Tree National Park on Instagram. Somewhere between scrolling and dreaming, I realized what I truly missed.

As a solopreneur and founder of Ditched the Drink (DTD), I missed the travel I once had in my corporate life. The conferences. The connection. The feeling of being part of something bigger.

And then—like magic—I saw it.

Sober in the City: Palm Springs.
Taking place in February 2023, when I would be celebrating my 5th soberversary.

It felt like a sign.

So I bought the ticket as a gift to myself and emailed Peggi to say hello. Within minutes, she replied… and promptly put me on a speaker panel—where I lovingly roasted her for poking fun at mocktails in her book… while we all sat dressed in white like a sacred, sober sisterhood, sipping Joyus.

Life is funny like that.

A handful of my California clients came to join. My friend Amanda, The Sober Illustrator, asked to be my roommate. This ended up being the most unexpected gift of all. I thought I wanted solitude. Turns out, what I really wanted was connection.

That weekend sealed the deal between Sober in the City and me.

Susie spent most of it in a robe and was quickly crowned “Susie Jacuzzi.”
An instant friendship was born.

Soon after, I was invited to co-host Friday night activities in Tampa with Meg Gieswhite—complete with a pink flamingo theme. I knew immediately:

These were my people.

This time I brought friends, clients… and my emotional support mom.
After years of traveling to her work conferences, it was surreal—and deeply meaningful—to have her sitting front row at one of mine. Cheering. Photographing. Supporting me the same way she always has, and not that different from her encouraging smile at my elementary school holiday concerts back in the day.

Meg and I planned with excitement (and a little nervous energy), but the moment the night began, the room lit up. The activity was an instant hit.

I remember thinking, Oh… we’re onto something.

Next came Seattle—where I was invited to host the Thought Leadership Forum. I invited Katie of Soberish Mom, fresh off going viral, to share her wisdom. I met powerhouse creator Alysse Bryson, who hosted Thursday night. Once again, friends and clients joined—and by now, familiar faces greeted me too.

My community was growing.
My friendships were deepening.

Then came Scottsdale—where we tried something brand new.

A Thursday night pre-event.

We went all in.

Mocktails by my beloved client Chelsie (who had attended every SITC with me) and help from clients-turned-coaches through my Dare to Dream (DTD) business coaching—Jen Roesler and Lucy West—and together we created The Art of Connection.

There were friendship bracelets.
A photo booth.
Quesadillas.
A kaftan dress code that somehow won over everyone.

As the sun dipped below the desert sky, I stood there thinking:

This is it. This is the dream.

And now—I am beyond honored to be invited back to host Thursday night in Colorado Springs—a place especially close to my heart, where my mom has lived for over 30 years.

The mountains heal you.
The stars feel closer.
And as the Indigo Girls once said, “You feel time differently in Colorado.”

Inspired by my sorority-girl daughter, I knew exactly what this night needed to be:

Denim to Diamonds (DTD)

A western-inspired evening filled with sparkle, connection, and joy.

We’ll sip Prima Pavé thanks to the effortlessly classy ambassador Kate Danaj.
We’ll dance—in a fun, beginner-friendly way—using a connection ritual passed down from my maternal grandmother, a square dancer who believed joy lived in movement.

Jewelry. Music. Laughter. Magic.

Giddy up, cowboys and cowgirls—you won’t want to miss this one.

What started as a single ticket bought for myself has become something so much bigger.

Through Sober in the City, I’ve made lifelong friends, meaningful collaborators, and beautiful business partnerships. I’ve welcomed guest experts into my community. I’ve spotlighted women I admire deeply—like Cindi Roberts and Shelly Anne McKay.

And honestly?

The greatest testimonial is this:

We keep coming back.

Again and again.

Because Sober in the City is a safe place—to relax, to learn, to laugh, and to belong… without alcohol.

I’m endlessly grateful for this partnership—and for the people who make it feel like home.

See you in Colorado Springs. Check it out HERE.